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My Budget LS Engine Swap Guide <$1500
#121
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My engine is a 2004 5.3 from a Silverado w/ drive by wire.....will my throttle body bolt to any year LS1 intake and work properly? If not what year?
Are LS1 injectors significantly different than the 5.3 that I need to make that correction in the PCM?
I didn't want to use a return line, and wanted to put a corvette pressure regulator near the fuel tank so would that limit the range of intake / fuel rails?
#122
5.3 into 84 c10
That's great info MeanYellowZ... I am doing a 5.3L with 4L60E tranny swap into my 84 C10. I bought a 5.3 (w/drive by wire) from a 2002 Chevy Tahoe with all accessories and the computer yesterday. I intend on using the drive by wire system but I need to go back and get the pedal from the Tahoe. I am also leaning towards buying the painless wiring harness. Have you done one of these swaps in my trucks model which I think is from 78-87? Also, is there someone that already has a transmission mount made to install the 4L60E? My truck currrently has the TH350. I am thinking of using the 6L80E for the added 2 gears but I already have a 4L60E from a 98 S10 pickup. Your help and advice would greatly be appreciated. I didn't actually see the Tahoe that they removed the engine from but they said this was a flexfuel engine. How can I tell the difference between a flexfuel engine and a regular one?
Last edited by overdalimit; 12-12-2009 at 11:02 AM.
#123
On The Tree
This has to be one of the single greatest threads ever.
I've got a 99 SS S10 that I'm pretty sure was under water (video evidence below.) If I can basically gut the truck and stuff a 5.3 LS1 into it, maybe with a cam, I'd be in pretty good shape.
Here's the truck:
Any idea if I have to pull all my stock dash wiring, or do I need to reuse it and mate it to the new LS1 harness?
Great info. Thanks a million,
Alan
I've got a 99 SS S10 that I'm pretty sure was under water (video evidence below.) If I can basically gut the truck and stuff a 5.3 LS1 into it, maybe with a cam, I'd be in pretty good shape.
Here's the truck:
Any idea if I have to pull all my stock dash wiring, or do I need to reuse it and mate it to the new LS1 harness?
Great info. Thanks a million,
Alan
#125
On The Tree
I'd really like to make this as much of a drop in affair as possible.
#126
Can't tell you how much I can appreciate this write up. Especially being a newb to the site, not the the custom car/truck world.
I have plans to put just a nice driveable 5.3 with the LS1 intake setup, and a 4L60E or 4L80E trans setup in my 63 Impala SS. If anyone can do a short point in right direction to a simular build it would be greatly appreciated....but the search engine will be used as I get time.
I also plan on putting a 5.3 or 6.0L into my 98 SAS swapped GMC 4x4 as well, but that will come in time as and when needed.
Some interests in the impala search would include:
What complete truck years would be my best bet? Plan on buying a write off truck here locally and just removing what I need and when. Eventually some performance items might be done, but for now I just want driveability, reliability, and best base engine to start with so that it can be added onto in years to come performance wise. This will be a driver so it will more than likely never be anything to crazy. I want to be able to afford to drive it across the country if I want to, but still lay a pair of black marks down the ashphalt when needed...lol.
Thanks, and again....great thread!!!!
I have plans to put just a nice driveable 5.3 with the LS1 intake setup, and a 4L60E or 4L80E trans setup in my 63 Impala SS. If anyone can do a short point in right direction to a simular build it would be greatly appreciated....but the search engine will be used as I get time.
I also plan on putting a 5.3 or 6.0L into my 98 SAS swapped GMC 4x4 as well, but that will come in time as and when needed.
Some interests in the impala search would include:
What complete truck years would be my best bet? Plan on buying a write off truck here locally and just removing what I need and when. Eventually some performance items might be done, but for now I just want driveability, reliability, and best base engine to start with so that it can be added onto in years to come performance wise. This will be a driver so it will more than likely never be anything to crazy. I want to be able to afford to drive it across the country if I want to, but still lay a pair of black marks down the ashphalt when needed...lol.
Thanks, and again....great thread!!!!
#127
On The Tree
Can't tell you how much I can appreciate this write up. Especially being a newb to the site, not the the custom car/truck world.
I have plans to put just a nice driveable 5.3 with the LS1 intake setup, and a 4L60E or 4L80E trans setup in my 63 Impala SS. If anyone can do a short point in right direction to a simular build it would be greatly appreciated....but the search engine will be used as I get time.
I also plan on putting a 5.3 or 6.0L into my 98 SAS swapped GMC 4x4 as well, but that will come in time as and when needed.
Some interests in the impala search would include:
What complete truck years would be my best bet? Plan on buying a write off truck here locally and just removing what I need and when. Eventually some performance items might be done, but for now I just want driveability, reliability, and best base engine to start with so that it can be added onto in years to come performance wise. This will be a driver so it will more than likely never be anything to crazy. I want to be able to afford to drive it across the country if I want to, but still lay a pair of black marks down the ashphalt when needed...lol.
Thanks, and again....great thread!!!!
I have plans to put just a nice driveable 5.3 with the LS1 intake setup, and a 4L60E or 4L80E trans setup in my 63 Impala SS. If anyone can do a short point in right direction to a simular build it would be greatly appreciated....but the search engine will be used as I get time.
I also plan on putting a 5.3 or 6.0L into my 98 SAS swapped GMC 4x4 as well, but that will come in time as and when needed.
Some interests in the impala search would include:
What complete truck years would be my best bet? Plan on buying a write off truck here locally and just removing what I need and when. Eventually some performance items might be done, but for now I just want driveability, reliability, and best base engine to start with so that it can be added onto in years to come performance wise. This will be a driver so it will more than likely never be anything to crazy. I want to be able to afford to drive it across the country if I want to, but still lay a pair of black marks down the ashphalt when needed...lol.
Thanks, and again....great thread!!!!
Anyway you slice it, whether you put it in a Gremlin or a Rolls Royce, the engine choices seem pretty straightforward.
You basically have two options, broken down into two or three categories.
I'm stepping out of the house right now, but here's some info I've compiled from several threads across the Forumverse.
I'm leaning toward an L33 if I can find one reasonably, but the LM7 is a great alternative. This is, of course, assuming I can't find the right LQ4 (or an aluminum substitution if it's available) to stuff in.
I'd LOVE an LQ4 wtih L92 heads, an L72 intake, better than mild cam, and a 100 shot.
Hope this helps, but if it's wrong please correct away.
* Engine - L33 LSX 5.3 - $500-$1000 at www.car-parts.com. I've seen entire engine and tranny combos there for $1500-$2000, so keep an eye out.
o L33 has 9.9:1 compression (315 HP) and the LM7 has 9.5:1. (300 hp?)
o L33 is basically the aluminum block version of the LM7.
o The LM7 is Drive By Wire.
o 3.780" bore.
* Engine (2) - LQ4 is a 6.0 with an iron block, which adds 65 pounds over the aluminum block in the L33.
o 4" Bore
o 9.4:1 compression
o The crankshaft is longer on the older lq4s on the back where it bolts up to the flexplate. These engines were intended to be only hooked up to the 4L80e transmissions.
o 99 LQ4s had iron heads.
o 2000+ LQ4s had aluminum heads.
o Write up on the long crank style LQ4. Avoid this engine: http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/lt...0-lq4-6-a.html
o L33 has 9.9:1 compression (315 HP) and the LM7 has 9.5:1. (300 hp?)
o L33 is basically the aluminum block version of the LM7.
o The LM7 is Drive By Wire.
o 3.780" bore.
* Engine (2) - LQ4 is a 6.0 with an iron block, which adds 65 pounds over the aluminum block in the L33.
o 4" Bore
o 9.4:1 compression
o The crankshaft is longer on the older lq4s on the back where it bolts up to the flexplate. These engines were intended to be only hooked up to the 4L80e transmissions.
o 99 LQ4s had iron heads.
o 2000+ LQ4s had aluminum heads.
o Write up on the long crank style LQ4. Avoid this engine: http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/lt...0-lq4-6-a.html
Last edited by NewZ; 01-08-2010 at 04:45 PM.
#128
$1500/1700 is an awesome price, thats assuming we can do thr work ourselves and find the parts ourselves.
How much is it if we hired somebody like you to do the swap??
cutlass@gmail.com you can email me
How much is it if we hired somebody like you to do the swap??
cutlass@gmail.com you can email me
#129
im looking to buy an lq4 and i came accross a 2004 chevy express van with an lq4. I did some research and found out some specs. but i cant figure out is this has 300 or 345 HP. is there a way to tell. Im also looking to swap out the heads with some l92 and an ls3 intake. Any advise will help. thanks
#130
Here is a thread that shows me doing a 5.3L LS1 swap, and it might help with some of the general questions u guys might have
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...wap-build.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...wap-build.html
#131
Launching!
iTrader: (3)
hey that is some serious cool info you have there, i have a question that no one cant seem to answer for me, may be you can help or know of someone who do? i want to put a lm7 5.3 in my camaro, but i want to make it carb, iv red some info on it and it all looks some what easy, but the biggest problem i have is... i want to use my t5 from my 89 camaro, but i cant find an adapter plate to make it work, my t5 has been re done to handle some extra power, im not a racer even though i do run her some times, i just want to use my old t5 for now till i get some extra money, is there any info you can give me.thanks
#132
hey that is some serious cool info you have there, i have a question that no one cant seem to answer for me, may be you can help or know of someone who do? i want to put a lm7 5.3 in my camaro, but i want to make it carb, iv red some info on it and it all looks some what easy, but the biggest problem i have is... i want to use my t5 from my 89 camaro, but i cant find an adapter plate to make it work, my t5 has been re done to handle some extra power, im not a racer even though i do run her some times, i just want to use my old t5 for now till i get some extra money, is there any info you can give me.thanks
Just something you might wanna know is that the STOCK T5 tranny is only rated up to 300 ft lbs (idk how much extra power you did)
Good Luck
#133
On The Tree
im looking to buy an lq4 and i came accross a 2004 chevy express van with an lq4. I did some research and found out some specs. but i cant figure out is this has 300 or 345 HP. is there a way to tell. Im also looking to swap out the heads with some l92 and an ls3 intake. Any advise will help. thanks
#134
Teching In
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Ontario Canada
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The next item to consider is what transmission you plan on running. The LS engines will work with any older GM trans with some considerations. TH350s/ 700R4s/ TH400s work by using a GM part as a flexplate spacer and bolts to place the flexplate at the proper spacing, and this part provides a place for the converter snout to engage, using the original converter. The thing to consider is the downshift/ TV cables associated need to be addressed. Companies like Bowtie overdrives, etc have pieces to make them work. Obviously the 6-speeds/ 4l60Es designed to be behind the LS-engines work easily with the proper harnesses if your budget allows.
Could you please tell me the part number for the spacer I need to run my TH400 trans behind an LS6? Due to financial constraints, I need to reuse my old trans for now. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Could you please tell me the part number for the spacer I need to run my TH400 trans behind an LS6? Due to financial constraints, I need to reuse my old trans for now. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you.
#135
On The Tree
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: granville ma
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great reading.
I'm doing a pretty unusual swap, LS1 into a volvo wagon, a 97 V90.
Still hunting for the drive train, this thread has me thinking of looking harder at a 5.3, which I had dismissed.
thx for putting this together
I'm doing a pretty unusual swap, LS1 into a volvo wagon, a 97 V90.
Still hunting for the drive train, this thread has me thinking of looking harder at a 5.3, which I had dismissed.
thx for putting this together
#137
I have a 75 vette and I plan on putting an ls1 w/carb on it. Do you mind posting some pictures of your car? And give me a list of the parts you used for your build it would be a great help for me? feel free to email if thats easier for you MTChurch@optonline.net
#138
From Wikipedia:
L33
The L33 was an aluminum block version of the LM7, and was referred to as the Vortec 5300 HO in marketing materials. Power increased by 15 hp (11 kW), to 310 hp (230 kW), over the LM7, and torque was unchanged. It was only available on extended cab 4WD pickup trucks.
L33 applications:
* 2005-2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD
* 2005-2007 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine
There are others, but they are Flex-fuel, Active Fuel Management or feature variable valve timing, ca-ching!
L33
The L33 was an aluminum block version of the LM7, and was referred to as the Vortec 5300 HO in marketing materials. Power increased by 15 hp (11 kW), to 310 hp (230 kW), over the LM7, and torque was unchanged. It was only available on extended cab 4WD pickup trucks.
L33 applications:
* 2005-2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4WD
* 2005-2007 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine
There are others, but they are Flex-fuel, Active Fuel Management or feature variable valve timing, ca-ching!
On the truck engines with an aluminum block - I believe the SSR also has the aluminum block - initially the 5.3L, and later the 5.7L or 6.0L (not sure which, if not both?). Quite a bit more pricey...
I picked up a complete GM 5.3L Vortec/4L60e out of a 2005 Tahoe some time ago, with the harness, PCM, throttle-by-wire assembly, all belt-driven accessories, even the exhaust pipes all the way back to include the cad converter (and less that 500 miles on the drivetrain). My plans are to eventually stick it in the truck shown in my avatar.
As you might guess from my 'handle' the truck is a 1946 Hudson pickup - See my little website for more pictures of this and my other trucks...
Last edited by 46HudsonPU; 01-20-2010 at 09:52 PM.